Travelling with pet animals between EU Member States

There are harmonised rules regarding non-commercial movement of dogs, cats and ferrets within EU.

From 29 December 2014 new Regulation for the movement of pets (dogs, cats and ferrets) will be applied: Regulation (EU) No. 576/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council, on the non- commercial movement of pet animals and repealing Regulation (EC) No 998/2003.

Even though the new EU regulation 576/2013 brings some change, the basic requirements for the movement of dogs, cats and ferrets between EU Member States (MS) does not change.

If you are travelling with your dog, cat or ferret to Latvia from other EU Member States the following requirements must be met:

Identification – dogs, cats and ferrets must be identified with transponder (microchip). Transponders must comply with the ISO standard 11784 and apply HDX or FDX-B technology and must be capable of being read by reading device (ISO Standard 11785). The identification of animals using tattoos is recognised only when the tattoo is clearly readable and was applied before 3rd July 2011.

EU pet passport - dogs, cats and ferrets must be accompanied by the EU pet passport. A new style pet passport will be introduced from 29 December 2014 (according to the model set out in 577/2013). If you pet has got already EU passport which is issued before 29 December 2014, complying with the model of Comission Decision 2003/803/EC, you do not need to obtain the new passport and it is valid for the lifetime of animal. If you are getting new passport for your animal from 29. December 2014, it should be in accordance with the model set out in 577/2013.

Valid rabies vaccination- dogs, cats and ferrets over 12 weeks of age must be vaccinated against rabies. Vaccination must be done after the animal has been identified. After primary vaccination you must wait 21 days before your pet can enter another EU country. Booster vaccination is valid from date given provided they are given on time (according to the instructions in the vaccine manufacturers data sheet). If the revaccination date is missed your animal will not meet the conditions to move to other Member State. In this case you must vaccinate the animal and wait 21 days before you can travel.

Definitions of dogs, cats and ferrets according to the new regulation:

Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris)

Cats (Felis silvestris catus)

Ferrets (Mustela pustorius furo)

„Non-commercial movement” means any movement which doesn’t have as its aim either the sale of or the transfer of ownership of the animals.

Pet animal during the non-commercial movement shall accompany the owner who is indicated in the identification document of the animal (passport) or any natural person who has authorisation in writing from the owner to carry out the non- commercial movement of the animal on behalf of the owner.

The maximum number of pet animals which may accompany the owner or an authorised person during the single non- commercial movement shall not exceed five.

By way of derogation- the maximum number of pet animals may exceed five if the following conditions are fulfilled:

the non- commercial movement of pet animals is for the purpose of participating in competitions, exhibitions or sporting events or in training for such events;

the owner or the authorised person submits written evidence that the pet animals are registered either to attend the above mentioned event or with an association organising such events;

the pet animals are more than six months old.

Where the maximum number of dogs, cats and ferrets during single non- commercial movement exceeds five, and aforementioned derogation is not applied and conditions are not fulfilled, the animal health conditions for the commercial movement shall be applied (Directives 92/65/EEC, 90/425/EEC, Regulation 1/2005).

Travelling with young dogs, cats and ferrets to Latvia from EU Member States

According to the Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 which will come in force on 29th December 2014 Latvia will not authorise the movement of dogs, cats and ferrets less than12 weeks old and are not vaccinated against rabies or if they are between 12-16 weeks old and have not yet meet the validity requirements of vaccination.

Movement of pets other than dogs, cats and ferrets for non-commercial purposes to Latvia from EU Member States

There are no restrictions on bringing pet animals listed in the Annex I, Part B of the Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 on the non- commercial movement of pet animals and repealing Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 (e.g. invertebrates, amphibia, reptiles, birds, mammals: rodents and rabbits other than those intended for food production ) to Latvia from other EU countries. No legal obligation for documents to accompany aforementioned pets, except for CITES animals

Travelling with pets from Latvia to other EU Member States

The requirements are:

identification – microchip or clearly readable tattoo if applied before 3rd July 2011,

EU pet passport;

valid rabies vaccination;

additional requirements for dogs travelling to Finland, Ireland, Malta and United Kingdom: must be treated against the tapeworm Echinococcus in accordance with Comission Delegated Regulation (EU) No. 1152/2011

the treatment shall be administered by a veterinarian within a period of not more than 120 hours and not less than 24 hours before the time of scheduled entry into Finland, Ireland, Malta or United Kingdom

the treatment shall be certified by the administering veterinarian in the relevant section of the passport.

Travelling with young animals to Member States

According to the Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 which will come in force on 29th December 2014 Member States may authorise the movement of dogs, cats and ferrets less than12 weeks old and are not vaccinated against rabies or if they are between 12-16 weeks old and have not yet meet the validity requirements of vaccination. Before you plan to travel with aforementioned animals to other Member States please check if the MS of destination is applying aforementioned derogation.

If the MS is authorising the movement of young animals following conditions should be fulfilled:

animals must be ID marked;

accompanied with identification document (EU passport);

owner or the authorised person provides a signed declaration that from birth until the time of the non- commercial movement the pet animals have had no contact with wild animals of species susceptible to rabies or

the pet animals are accompanied by their mother, on whom they still depend, and from the identification document accompanying their mother it can be established that, before their birth, the mother received an anti-rabies vaccination which complied with the validity requirements set out in the regulation.